BBC news just post article about the danger of users crushing pills to allow easy swallowing. By crushing the pills, it distrupt the natural balance the drug manufacturer created in the pill.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6085292.stm

What do you guys think of the validity of article?

Article makes perfect sense. Never crush sustained release forumulations.

Its rather simple. If the pill in question is modified in any of the following ways: sustained release (SR), delayed release, enterically coated (EC), extended release (ER), timed release, bilayer, or has any other abbreviations after the name, like XL, CD, CR etc, then don't crush it. There is a good reason for pharmaceutical company to formulate it that way. Otherwise its perfectly OK to crush pills and open capsules.

Examples of pills not to be crushed: Aspirin EC (enterically coated), Protonix, Cardizem CD, Ambien CR

Examples of pills that are OK to crush: Cleocin capsules, Prinivil, Aspirin (not enterically coated)

If you are ever in doubt, ask a pharmacist or consult any of the drug books to see if the pill is "modified" in any way.

And some crushed pills taste really nasty!!!

If I understood from my mother's doctor correctly, some pills are designed to be absorbed in certain places in the digestive tract. Uncoated tablets are designed to dissolve in the stomach. Coated pills are often coated so they DON'T dissolve in the stomach, but in the small intestine instead.

Don't assume. Whenever you get a new prescription, ASK the pharmacist what you may or may not do.

Sue

You are right, some pills are designed to be absorbed in certain places in the digestive tract. Most pills are not entericaly coated and dissolve in the stomach. Some pills are coated simply to make them easier to swallow or to disguise a nasty taste.
As I stated before, unless its one of the modified formulations, its OK to crush pills and empty capsules. Asking a pharmacist is by far the best option.